How to visit the Fly Geyser in Nevada

THE FLY GEYSER on Fly Ranch in Nevada is an unusual (and unplanned) collaboration between man and nature. The multi-colored geothermal geyser, which constantly sprays water five feet in the air, building up the landmark by depositing minerals and multi-colored thermophilic algae on the surrounding terraces—is the result of a 1964 drilling project that was never properly capped.

The geyser discharges water into some 30-40 terraced pools over an area of 74 acres, but the travertine mound on which the geyser sits is relatively small at ~5 feet high and 12 feet wide, and always growing.

The 3,800-acre Fly Ranch property, where the geyser resides was purchased by Burning Man in 2016. Currently it’s not open to the public, but they’ve got plans to create a permanent, year-round site for artists and visitors.

How to get there:

Fly Ranch is located 21 miles north of Gerlach, Nevada. The Fly Geyser sits on private land (no trespassing on this fragile environment), but it’s highly visible, sitting about a ⅓ of a mile off of Route 34. The plumes of water can be seen from miles away.

What to consider

This is private property, do not trespass to get closer to the geyser.

The colors are real, but they’re not from minerals—they are the result of algae.

There are actually two geysers on the property, the first was from a well dug in the early 1900’s, but the 1964 drilling site stole the pressure from the first and that cone now sits dry.

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